Don't judge us by Confederations Cup results, says Socceroos boss

IF THE Socceroos take their performance cues for their opening Confederations Cup match from that of their manager, Ange Postecolgou, during his pre-match press conference, Germany can expect to be met with some stubborn, belligerent resistance.

Postecolgou took exception to a series of questions during his prescribed media duties in the bowels of Sochi's Fischt Stadium, where Australia faces the world champions in its opening group game in the early hours of Tuesday morning (AEST), notably when asked to justify picking a full-strength squad when his opposite number, Joachim Low, was busy blooding fringe players.

He was dismissive, also, of the suggestion that what happens over the next fortnight, and during the remainder of the current World Cup campaign, will define his tenure as Socceroos manager, insisting, perhaps with some legitimacy, that Asian Cup success and the strides the side have taken under him mean his "tenure has already been defined”.

But it was the claim that Germany would be fielding a notably youthful team for the final match of the opening round of fixtures that most animated him.

"If people actually want to do some research, have a look tomorrow,” he said.

"I don't buy this team's younger, somehow we're playing a weakened team, it's a bit of a myth.

"When we roll out tomorrow do the maths. Do their starting 11, do our starting 11, take an average and tell me who's younger.”

It was, in many regards, textbook Postecoglou - at times prickly; repeatedly asserting his side's right to mix it with the heavyweights - and some self awareness and wry humour thrown in for good good measure.